The senator representing Oyo South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Sarafadeen Alli, has emerged winner of the Oyo State governorship primary election of the All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2027 elections.
Alli secured 578,143 votes to defeat other aspirants in the contest. Senator Buhari came second with 37,265 votes, while former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, polled 19,193 votes.
Following the announcement of the results, businessman and philanthropist Dotun Sanusi congratulated Alli on what he described as a landslide victory.
Sanusi said the outcome of the primary reflected the confidence and overwhelming support the people have in Alli’s leadership, vision and commitment to the development of Oyo State.
In a statement issued yesterday, he also commended members of the APC, the ROCOF/JDS group, market men and women, and other supporters for their dedication and loyalty throughout the exercise.
“Today’s victory is not just for one person, but for every progressive voice yearning for a better and prosperous Oyo State,” he said.
He added that the victory should serve as a rallying point for party members as they prepare for the next phase of the electoral process.
Meanwhile, Adelabu has raised concerns over alleged irregularities during the conduct of the governorship primary across parts of the state.
Speaking with journalists after voting at Ward 9 in Ibadan South-East Local Government Area, Adelabu described the exercise in his ward as peaceful, transparent and credible, noting that he enjoyed overwhelming support from party members in the area.
According to him, more than 430 out of about 437 registered party members in the ward voted in his favour.
“This is my ancestral home and my natural ward. I am satisfied with what we witnessed here today. The process was peaceful, free and fair without violence or intimidation,” he said.
However, the APC chieftain alleged that reports from several wards across the state pointed to cases of intimidation, manipulation of results and other electoral irregularities.
Adelabu claimed that elections were conducted before the officially scheduled time in some areas, while party members were allegedly prevented from voting in others.
“In some places, elections did not even take place, yet results were allegedly written and recorded. This is not good for our democracy, and something must be done about it,” he stated.
The former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria also alleged that some party executives connived with certain aspirants to impose what he described as “consensus candidates,” despite the directive of the party’s national leadership for a free and transparent direct primary.
“There was nothing like consensus candidates. Eleven aspirants purchased forms and were cleared to contest. Every aspirant should have been given a level playing field,” Adelabu added.
He disclosed that petitions would be submitted to the appropriate authorities over the alleged irregularities recorded across the five geopolitical zones of Oyo State — Ibadan, Oke-Ogun, Ogbomosho, Ibarapa and Oyo.
Adelabu further warned against attempts to impose what he termed an unpopular candidate on the party through manipulated results.
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